A food handler at an Olive Garden restaurant in Gloucester County tested positive for Hepatitis A, county health officials said Thursday.
The employee at the Olive Garden at 1500 Almonesson Road in Deptford worked while infected between Dec. 26 and 30, according to the announcement.
Hepatitis A is a viral illness with symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, poor appetite, jaundice and dark urine, county officials advised. Symptoms usually appear within two to seven weeks after exposure.
Anyone who previously received a Hepatitis A vaccine is not at risk, the county said. Those who are unvaccinated face a low risk, but the risk may be lowered further by getting vaccinated within two weeks of exposure, officials said.
Those who are unvaccinated and believe they may have been exposed are encouraged to contact their health care provider.
The county is working with the restaurant to vaccinate potentially exposed co-workers, officials said.
The county health department conducted full inspections of the restaurant in March 2023 and on Wednesday, and the business received satisfactory ratings in both cases, according to the county.
“Gloucester County Department of Health is working closely with the New Jersey Department of Health and the restaurant facility to protect the public and prevent further spread of disease,” officials stated.
Anyone with questions is asked to call the county at 856-218-4151. Residents may also visit the health department website.
The restaurant chain offered more details about the matter in a statement.
“The ill front-of-house team member last worked 10 days before they were diagnosed and will not be permitted to return to work until being officially released by a doctor,” an Olive Garden spokeswoman said Thursday, adding that the company was not aware of any other staff members or guests becoming ill.
“We place the highest priority on having the cleanest and safest restaurants in the restaurant industry,” she continued. “Across the country, many local health departments point to our standards as a model for other companies to follow.”
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Matt Gray may be reached at [email protected].
